Parliament today postponed the enactment of the proposed Social Security Contribution Bill due to a heated argument between government and opposition lawmakers.
Both the leader of the opposition party, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and the chairman of the Public Finance Committee, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya member of parliament, Dr. Harsha de Silva, voted against the bill’s passage in parliament.
The Bill had been scheduled to be approved without debate or even a vote, but that was delayed after objections were raised by opposition lawmakers.
Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake warned that the proposed Social Security Contribution Bill would increase taxes for the general public in his speech to the House of Representatives.
Dr. Harsha de Silva, the SJB MP who chairs the Public Finance Committee, has stated that it is inappropriate to pass a Bill without first providing a review of it.
The lawmaker stated, “However, we had to approve the Social Security Contribution Bill as we were informed that it was urgent.” The lawmaker went on to say that the Public Finance Committee does not approve any Bill without reviewing it.
In addition, according to MP de Silva, the bill needs some changes and cannot be passed without them being examined.
As a compromise with the opposition lawmakers, House Leader Minister Susil Premajayantha proposed delaying the Social Security Contribution Bill’s implementation until Thursday.
